EPA Announces Winner of the Energy Star National Building Competition

May 15, 2013

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 23 announced the winner of its third-annual Energy Star National Building Competition. A New Jersey elementary school won the 2012 event by demonstrating a 52% energy use reduction. Overall, more than 3,000 schools, businesses, and government buildings across the country competed to see which could reduce its energy use the most in one year.

The Demarest Elementary School in Bloomfield, New Jersey, took top honors in third-annual Energy Star National Building Competition.Credit: EPA

Competitors in the 2012 National Building Competition cut their energy costs by more than $50 million. Eighty-nine buildings in the competition demonstrated energy use reductions of 20% or greater. Competitors tracked their buildings' monthly energy consumption using EPA's online energy tracking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The energy use reductions for each top finisher were verified by an independently licensed professional engineer or registered architect at the conclusion of the competition.

Demarest Elementary School in Bloomfield, New Jersey, took top honors by identifying and addressing a number of mechanical issues and installing energy management upgrades that added up to significant energy- and cost-saving reductions. The staff also took control of energy management in their immediate areas by turning off and unplugging electronic devices. Registration for the 2013 Energy Star National Building Competition is open until May 31. See the EPA press release and the National Building Competition website.